Iowa Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses

ISPAN Mission Statement

As a component of ASPAN, ISPAN formally recognizes the purpose and mission of ASPAN.

The Society is committed to maintaining and upgrading the standards of the specialty, and to the promotion of professional growth of its members.

ISPAN History

ISPAN, the Iowa Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses, has been a componant member of ASPAN since 1983, but has been in existance as an independent orginization since 1981.

In March 1981, an organizational meeting was held to investigate if there was enough interest to form the Recovery Room Nurses Association of Iowa. The Iowa Society of Anesthesiologists voiced support for the organization's formation and $200 "seed" money was appropriated by ISA to help the new organization.

In August of 1981, an interim committee met. Bylaws were completed and plans were made for formation of the organization. In September of 1981, elections were held and ISPAN was formed. We changed the name to better fit with a "new" national organization that was just emerging for nurses in our field.

One year later, application was made to become a charter of the American Society of PostAnesthesia Nurses (ASPAN) and in March of 1983, the application was accepted and ISPAN became a duly chartered componant of ASPAN.

We have served nurses working in all areas of perianesthesia practice, regardless of where that care is delivered. During the past decades, we have changed with the times. We have changed our name, our goals, and our purposes. The changes have always been in response to member needs and the constant evolution of nursing practice.

ISPAN continues to be dedicated to providing members of this Society access to current education, knowledge, guidelines, and resources for perianesthesia nursing.

We encourage nurses from all practice areas to take advantage of the wealth of information, support and networking that is provided by being a member of ASPAN and ISPAN.